What documents do I need to enter the UAE (Dubai)?
The UAE needs a passport valid six months beyond entry, plus either a visa on arrival or a pre-arranged visit visa. Full document checklist for your trip1 Dubai stay.
Updated
Entering the UAE - what you need
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the other emirates sit under the same federal entry rules, so the checklist is identical wherever you land. Sort these out well before your trip1 booking dates.
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond your entry date, with at least one blank page.
- Either eligibility for a visa on arrival, or a visit visa arranged in advance.
- A confirmed return or onward ticket.
- Proof of accommodation, which your trip1 booking confirmation provides.
- Enough funds for the length of your stay, if an officer asks to see evidence.
- Prior approval from the UAE health authorities for any controlled prescription medication, plus the doctor's letter.
Visa on arrival or a visa arranged in advance?
The passport you travel on decides this, and your airline checks it before boarding. Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries need no visa at all.
A long list of nationalities, including US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, Japanese and Chinese ordinary passport holders, receive a free entry stamp at the airport. Most of these permit 30 days, and some nationalities get up to 90 days within a 180-day window.
Everyone else needs a visit visa before flying. UAE visit visas are sponsored, which means an airline, a hotel, a licensed UAE tour operator or a resident relative applies on your behalf through the immigration authority. Start that process several weeks ahead, because processing is not instant.
Lists change, and the UAE has added nationalities to the visa on arrival scheme more than once in recent years. Confirm your own status with your airline or the UAE immigration authority shortly before departure rather than relying on older advice.
Rules that catch visitors out
Check the exact date printed on your entry stamp instead of assuming a full 30 days. Overstaying carries a daily fine and can block a future entry.
The UAE does not recognise dual nationality, and it treats you as a citizen of the passport you entered on. Enter and leave on the same document to avoid a problem at the exit desk.
Important: The UAE has strict rules on medication. Several drugs sold freely elsewhere are controlled substances here, and carrying them without prior approval and a doctor's letter can lead to arrest at the airport. Check your prescriptions against the UAE health ministry list before you pack.
Checking into a hotel in Dubai
Every guest aged 18 or over shows a passport at check-in, and the hotel registers foreign guests with the authorities. Bring the physical document, because a photo on your phone is usually refused.
Many UAE hotels also take a card or cash deposit at check-in to cover incidentals such as minibar, spa or restaurant charges. That deposit is the property's own policy and is separate from how you paid trip1 for the room.
Keep your trip1 booking confirmation handy on your phone. It doubles as the proof of accommodation that immigration officers and airline staff sometimes ask for.
Entering the UAE and Dubai - FAQ
You need a passport valid for at least 6 months after the date you arrive, a visa on arrival or a visit visa arranged in advance depending on your nationality, and a return or onward ticket. Officers can ask for proof of accommodation, which your trip1 booking confirmation provides, and evidence of funds. Controlled prescription medicines need advance approval from the UAE Ministry of Health.
Many visitors can, because they get a free visa on arrival. British citizens receive one at the airport valid for up to 90 days over a 180-day period. US, EU, Australian and Canadian passport holders also get visas on arrival, for 30 or 90 days depending on nationality. GCC citizens need no visa, and other nationalities need a sponsored visit visa before flying.
At least 6 months after the date you arrive, or 3 months if you hold a UAE residence permit. Airlines check this before boarding, so renew early if your passport is close to the limit. Bring the physical passport too, because Dubai hotels ask every adult guest to show it at check-in.
Immigration officers and airline staff can ask where you are staying and for your return or onward flight, so have both ready. Your trip1 booking confirmation works as proof of accommodation and can be shown from your phone. Officers may also ask for evidence that you have enough funds for your stay.